What influences brand perception is changing.

People are increasingly caring about the image of the company they work for, the ethical causes they support, what they’re doing to help people besides their primary role of providing a service or product. We’re becoming more concerned with shopping ethically, and our perceptions of a companies’ ethics are playing a growing role in our consumer choices.

As much as 87% of Millennials and 94% of Gen Z care about a company’s Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), showing that the future of the work force and purchasing power is increasingly influenced by the actions of companies.

However, as these attitudes are shifting, the UK economy is enduring a turbulent period, leaving many businesses figuring out how to do more with less. Staff stress levels and cases of mental illness have risen in recent times due to global and national events we’re all aware of.

Volunteering has been shown to help improve the mental health of those participating, feeling good about making a difference to others lives and improving their community. Staff can improve their skills, be they hands on, or soft skills such as leadership or communication. Whether monthly or annually, companies that encourage their staff to volunteer feel many benefits as a result. As many as 76% of participants in a recent report said they gained new skills and experience through volunteering organised by their company.

Unfortunately, many businesses still aren’t active with what is known as Employer Supported Volunteering (ESV). With so much being asked of companies with the economic challenges at present, external events can get pushed down the pecking order though not for a lack of trying.

This is where our Business Membership can help enormously.

Becoming a supporter of ours, if you want to set up some ESV we will help, both with connecting you to a suitable opportunity, and the running of the volunteering should you require it. We will also place your logo in our shop window and place you on our website, showing that you’re supporting volunteering in our community (it’s in the name!).

That’s helping to improve your company image and helping to provide opportunities which will benefit you and your staff.

Our business membership also offers other benefits, such as social media advertising and free attendance at our networking events. For the full list of benefits please see our website here.

If you’d like more information on how business membership can assist you, feel free to get in touch or come in to see us in the high street where we’ll be happy to discuss this and answer your questions.